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Donald Coffelt, P.E.

Donald Coffelt, P.E. (E 2008)

Associate Vice President for Facilities Management & Campus Services
Adjunct Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Address
5000 Forbes Avenue
FMSB
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Bio

Donald Coffelt is the Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Campus Services and Associate Vice President for Enterprise Space Strategies at Carnegie Mellon University.  His 400-member team provides facility services, infrastructure management, utility operations, and auxiliary services required to support the university’s 150-acre Pittsburgh campus. Reporting to the Vice President for Operations, Coffelt is also responsible for coordinating university-wide sustainability practices.

From 1995 to 2003, Coffelt was a Pittsburgh area facility services and technology firm executive with nationwide program management responsibilities. From 1985 through 2013, he served in various leadership assignments across the United States as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard before completing a 28-year career at the rank of Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

In addition to his doctorate from Carnegie Mellon University, Coffelt is a United States Coast Guard Academy graduate in New London, CT, and the University of Illinois. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and licensed as a professional engineer in Alaska and Pennsylvania. His published works include a graduate-level textbook, Fundamentals of Infrastructure Management. Active in community service, Dr. Coffelt also serves on several boards, including the United States Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association.

Education

  • PhD 2008 - Carnegie Mellon University
  • MS 1989 – University of Illinois
  • BS 1985 – United States Coast Guard Academy
  • Ensign U.S.C.G. 1985 – United States Coast Guard Academy

Research

Research Group: IESS, SETS
Research Center: CERCA

  • Infrastructure Deterioration
  • Total Cost of Ownership Modeling
  • University as a Lab Data-Driven and Automated Resilience
  • Regional Projection of Climate Change Impacts for Engineering Designs
  • Adaptable Engineered and Natural Infrastructure
  • Understanding Human-Infrastructure Interaction Under Climate Change

Publications

  • Coffelt, D., and Hendrickson, C (2017) "Fundamentals of Infrastructure Management." figshare. 
  • Coffelt, D., and Hendrickson, C . (2011) "Case study of occupant costs in roof management." Journal of Architectural Engineering 18.4 : 341-348.
  • Coffelt, D., and Hendrickson, C . (2011) “Carnegie Mellon University Facilities as an Educational Laboratory.” Proceedings of the Architectural Engineering Institute National Conference . AEI 2011: pp. 36-43.
  • Coffelt, D., and Hendrickson, C. (2010) "Life-cycle costs of commercial roof systems." Journal of Architectural Engineering 16.1 : 29-36. Coffelt, D., Hendrickson,C., and Healey, S. (2009) "Inspection, condition assessment, and management decisions for commercial roof systems." Journal of Architectural Engineering 16.3 : 94-99.
  • Coffelt, C. (2008) Roof management improvement: Improving infrastructure management decision making through a consideration of total life cycle cost and deterioration. ProQuest.

Professional Service

  • Senior Staff Officer U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh.
  • Assistant Deputy Reserve Director Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Branch of the U.S. Joint Service Command
  • Senior Reserve Officer U.S. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley
  • U.S. Coast Guard Liaison Officer Pentagon Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Reserve Command Advisor U.S. Coast Guard Operations Systems Center
  • Director of Programs for Private-sector Facilities Operations
  • Director of Public Works at the U.S. Coast Guard Shipyard
  • Chief Construction, Planning and Environmental for U.S. Coast Guard Alaska
  • Chief of Buoy Tender Operations for the U.S.C.G.C Cowslip.

Recent Awards

  • Carnegie Mellon University 50th Anniversary Founder (2017)
  • Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (2014)
  • Captain (O-6) in the United States Coast Guard Reserve (2012)
  • United States Department of Defense Joint Service Commendation Medal for leadership and research expertise (2011)
  • United States Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon & Alexander Hamilton Award for Team Operational Excellence (2009)
  • United States Coast Guard Commendation Medal for leadership and emergency response (2009)